Fuel-heater for gas-engines.



R. L. COFFMAN.

FUEL HEATER fus GAS ENGmEs.

APPLICAUON FiLD .IUNE 3,1916.

Patented May 2l, 1918.

5mm/c @XM/i v1 eamo attori/nut UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Speeioation of Letters Intent. l Patented May 21, 1918.

Appleman ma :une a, isis. seran nieuw..

To all whom it may condom.'

Be it lmown that I, ROBERT L. C orFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Big Sandy, in the county of Benton and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Heaters for Goats-En-v gmes, of which lthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a heater and more particularly to a device for heating the fuel of a gas engine before entering the carbureter so that thesame may very quickly vaporize.

The primary object of the invention is to provide novel means for regulating the heating effective irrespective of changes of the source of heat An object of the invention is to provide a heater so associated with the exhaust pipe that the proper passage of the gases through the exhaust plpe will not be interfered with.

Besides the above my invention is distinguished in the use of two lugs solocated that upon moving one of t e plugs toward closing position and the other toward opening posltion, the amount of heat conveyed to the fuel pipe of the gas engine may be re lated. i

ith these and other objects in view the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- The ligure is a longitudinal view through the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a carbureter, the fuel pipe 2 of which has an intermediate portion encircled by the casing 3 of my heater. This casin 3 is preferably disposed above and paralle with the exhaust Jupes 4 as shown, and is of ample size to we surround the fuel pipe 2, the latter passing through the heads of the casing and preferably along the axis of the latter. Near its ends the casing is connected with the exhaust pipe by upright pipe. sections 5 and 6 which open freely out of the bottom of the casing and into the top of the exhaust. These pipe sections also are preferably of ample size so as to permit any carbon or other accumulation which ma gather within the casing 3, to fall throug them into the-exhaust 4 and be blown out the latter. .Each pipe section is by preference formed in one side with a boss as shown, the same being internally threaded for the rece tion of an externally threaded plug 7, the atter having its inner end flat and its outer end squared vor otherwise formed for the reception of a wrench or suitable tool.

From the'foregoing descri tion it will be seen that in the passage o the hot gases fromlthe engine, some of the heated gases will' pass u into the casin and give up some of t eir heat to t e fuel assing through the pipe 2. When the plug l) in the pipe 6 is moved to open position and the plug 7 in the pipe 5 moved almost toclosed position, a large amount of the heated gases will be trapped in the casing for heating the fuel pipe to a high degree. The reverse is true when the plugs are moved to opposite position, that is to say, when the plug Yin pipe 6 is moved almost to closed position and the plug in pipe 5 moved to open position, the passage of the gases through the exhaust port vwill tend to suck the heated gases from the interior of the casin 3.

It will be observed that by making the inner ends of the plugs flat as shown, neither may be screwed inward far enough to make close contact with the opposite wall of the pipe section, and therefore the structure does not, strictly speaking, rovide valves in these pipe sections, but on y means by which the passage of the gases through them may be restricted as thought desirable. In whistles, horns, foot warmers and the like, Whose inlets are connected with the exhaust ipes from internal combustion engines, it is fbund that soot, carbon and other accumulations soon elo the dparts. My specific construction is orme with this in view. If the parts'should become clogged, it is very easy to remove the plugs 7 and reach in the holes in the bosses then exposed, so as to clean the interior of the pi sections, all soot, etc., falling throu h t em into the exhaust 4 whence it is b own out through the mulller should there be one at the rear of the machine. At any time by rapping on the casin 3, nearly `allof the accumulation therein will be caused to fall through the pipe sections if 'the lugs are open.

It should apparent from the fore oing description that I provide a device whlch is admirably adapted for the purpose for which it is intended, that the device is simple, durable and eilicient of construction, and

may be manufactured and sold et a comparthe exhaust pipe, uright cylindrical pipe atively low oost. sections conneetint e ottom of the casing 10 What I claim is: near its ends wit the top of the exhaust In a. fuel heater for gas engines, the oompipe end each having e boss in one side, end 5 bination with the exhaust pipe from the a lug threaded into each boss and having engine, and Athe erbureter end fuel pipe e et inner end, for the pur ose setforth. therefor." of a. cesingbsurrounding said fuel In testimony whereof I a x m signature. 15 pipe and disposed a ove end parallel with ROBERT L. CO FMAN. 

